Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom (IAITC) is helping teachers bring agriculture to life for students across the state through IAA foundation grants, which support hands-on lessons, teacher resources and agricultural literacy programs in Illinois schools.
This week, the IAA Foundation awarded $691,961 in grants to 79 agricultural literacy coalitions serving 81 Illinois counties. The funding will support program materials, training, educational lessons and activities during the 2026-27 school year.
“Our grant to local coalitions works to ensure that teachers across the state have access to materials and accurate resources to integrate agriculture into their existing curriculum from Pre-K to12,” said Kevin Daugherty, IAITC education director.
During the 2025-26 school year, IAITC reached 672,407 students and 49,726 teachers through agricultural literacy lessons. County Agriculture in the Classroom programs also delivered 35,004 individual programs across Illinois.
County coalition grants are made possible through gifts from IAA Foundation funding partners and individuals who support IAITC. As the charitable arm of Illinois Farm Bureau, the IAA Foundation raises funds for IAITC each year. In addition to county grants, the foundation supports Ag Mags, teacher grants, Summer Ag Academies and other agricultural literacy efforts.
“The IAA Foundation proudly supports the efforts of IAITC, and most importantly, the work of local ag literacy coordinators,” said Susan Moore, IAA Foundation director. “This is a true partnership in every sense of the word, and we are grateful to all organizations and individuals who give generously to help IAITC remain strong and well respected.
IAITC partner organizations include Illinois Farm Bureau, Facilitating Coordination in Agricultural Education, University of Illinois Extension, Illinois Beef Association, Illinois Corn Marketing Board, Illinois Pork Producers Association, Illinois Soybean Association, Midwest Dairy Association, Illinois Department of Agriculture and the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
Agribusiness partners and individuals also provide annual support for IAITC and its agricultural literacy programs.
For information about supporting the IAA Foundation or to view a list of major donors, visit www.iaafoundation.org. For more information about Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom, visit www.agintheclassroom.org.
Counties awarded ag literacy grants:
- Adams County
- Bond County
- Bureau County
- Cass and Morgan Counties
- Champaign County
- Christian County
- Clark County
- Clay County
- Clinton County
- Cook County
- Crawford County
- Cumberland County
- DeKalb County
- Douglas and Moultrie Counties
- DuPage County
- Edgar County
- Edwards County
- Effingham County
- Ford and Iroquois Counties
- Franklin County
- Fulton County
- Gallatin County
- Grundy and Kendall Counties
- Hamilton County
- Hancock County
- Henry County
- Jackson County
- Jasper County
- Kane County
- Kankakee County
- Knox County
- Lake County
- LaSalle County
- Lawrence County
- Lee County
- Livingston County
- Logan County
- Macon County
- Macoupin County
- Madison County
- Marion County
- Marshall and Putnam Counties
- Mason County
- Massac County
- McDonough County
- McHenry County
- McLean County
- Menard County
- Mercer County
- Monroe County
- Montgomery County
- Ogle County
- Peoria County
- Perry County
- Piatt County
- Pulaski and Alexander Counties
- Randolph County
- Richland County
- Rock Island County
- Saline County
- Sangamon County
- Shelby County
- St. Clair County
- Stark County
- Stephenson County
- Union County
- Vermillion County
- Wabash County
- Warren and Henderson Counties
- Washington County
- Wayne Counties
- White County
- Whiteside County
- Will County
- Williamson County
- Winnebago and Boone Counties
- Woodford County
***Courtesy of Illinois Agriculture in the Classroom***
